The Springfield High School commencement ceremony was interrupted briefly Saturday for a tornado warning that forced people inside the Prairie Capital Convention Center to evacuate to the lower level.

Attendees were asked to stay in the lower level for about 15 minutes until the National Weather Service canceled the tornado warning for Sangamon County.

“They went down (to the basement) in an orderly fashion and laughed all the way back,” said Daren Severado, a security officer at the convention Center. “We go through those drills it seems like every three months, and we got a chance to execute it, and it went fine.”

The convention center on Saturday hosted commencement ceremonies for all three Springfield high schools as well as Chatham’s Glenwood High School.

Lanphier High School’s graduation started at 11 a.m., followed by Southeast at 2 p.m., Springfield High at 5 p.m. and Glenwood at 8 p.m.

Saturday marked the first high school graduation for Jennifer Gill as superintendent of Springfield schools. Gill, a 1987 graduate of Springfield High, was hired in January.

“It means a lot to me to be superintendent of Springfield public schools and come in and celebrate with students and families,” Gill said. “I’m just a proud superintendent today.”

The Lanphier High School band kick-started festivities with the playing of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

A total of 206 graduates were listed in Lanphier’s program. Hannah Goett was class president, and Shastina Bryant was valedictorian.

Principal Artie Doss said the 2014 class holds a special place for him because they arrived at Lanphier the same time he did.

Doss said this year’s class was one of the most prepared to enter college he’s seen in his four years at Lanphier.

“They started with some apprehension but worked hard to turn around the perception of their school,” Doss said. “We’re really pleased with what they’ve done.”